Marine structure repair caisson



3, 1965 L. J. CASTELLANOS 3,197,968

MARINE STRUCTURE REPAIR CAISSON Filed Feb. 16, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

8 CASTELLANOS a i L BYLEO J i 53 :6 8 FIG.7. 4: 9m

ATTORNEY.

3, 1965 J. CASTELLANOS 3,197,968v

MARINE STRUCTURE REPAIR CAISSON Filed Feb. 16, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 FIG. 9

INVENTOR.

L E0 J. CASTELLANOS ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,197,968 MARINE STRUCTURE REPAIR CAISSON Leo J. Casteilanos, Annapolis, Md, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Esso Production Research Company, Houston, Tex., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 173,6?9 i Claims. (CL 61-63) This invention relates generally to caissons for repairing the support members of marine structures which have deteriorated near the waterline.

Marine structures such as piers, offshore drilling platforms, and the like, are usually supported by legs or piles formed of concrete, steel, or other materials which are placed relatively close together to carry the weight of the marine structure. Such piles or legs and the struts associated therewith are subjected to deteriorating influences such as corrosion and erosion. Maintenance and repair is usually quite difficult because-of wave action andbecause. it is necessary to perform repair operations at a substantial distance below the waterline. It is desirable to carry on maintenance and repair operations in a watertight caisson or cage attachable to a leg of a marine struc: ture from which water can be removed and excluded so as to provide a space extending a substantial distance be low the waterline within which workmen can move freely. A number of structures have been devised for this pur pose, none of which are entirely satisfactory for one reason or another. The prior art is typified by US. Patents No. 2,636,354, Glassgold, and No. 1,807,962, Cassiere. J

According to one feature of the invention, there is provided a lightweight caisson having an annular outer shell, a bottom with a central opening adapted to accommodate the leg or piling to be repaired, and an open top. The annular shell and the caisson bottom preferably are divided into matching halves with a resilient water-tight compressible gaskettherebetween extending from sub stantially the top ofthe shell to the central opening. Within the caisson and around the central opening is provided an annular split gasket housing afiixed to the caisson bottom. An annular compressible resilient gasket within the gasket housing is constructed and arranged so as to conform to the marine structure leg. ,An annular gasket housing compressing means is provided which is extensible around the gasket housing for exerting compressional force on the gasket housing and the annular gasket so as to isolate the interior ofthe caisson from water around the caisson. Preferably, the caisson bottom is downwardly coned to provide a sump area near the center thereof to facilitate pumping and to provide a wedging force to increase the sealing pressure of the annular gasket. l

Objects andfeatures of the invention not apparent from the above discussion will become evident upon considerainvention;

, FIG. 6 is an elevational view partially in section of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 3 having mounted thereon the apparatus shown in FIG. 5;

partially in elevation taken ice FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the eccentric pin shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along section 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view partially in elevation of a modification of the invention suitable for use in repairing struts or other inclined members on marine structures; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along section 1010 of FIG..9.

With reference now to the apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, thereis shown a caisson mounted on the leg 1 of a marine structure. The caisson includes a cylindrical annular outer shell including semicylindrical shell members 3A and 3B, respectively, having a plurality of vertically spaced, split annular flanges 15A and 153 for thepurpose of imparting structural rigidity to the shells. An annularsplit inner ring clamp member 12 clamp-the caisson to leg 1, thereby fixing and supporting .tion of the following detailed description when taken in I not be further described herein.

the caisson both laterally and vertically. The floor of the caisson also is split into sections 25A and 25B (see FIG. 2) andhas an annular opening at the center thereof to accommodate the leg 1 of the marine structure. The floor may be described as downwardly coning; i.e., the truncated conical composite structure formed by floor sections 25A and 25B cones downwardly from its base to' its apex such that the base is above the apex.

As shown most perspicuously in FIG. 2, the inner ring member 12-is provided with vertically disposed, radially extendingflanges 10A and 10B adapted tobe bolted together' to form a composite structure. The outer shell members 3A and 3B are locked together by a quickreleasable clamp comprising flanges 19 and'20 aflixed to the ends of at least the top and bottom of the flange sections 15A and 15B, and preferably to at leastone of the flanges therebetween. Flange 19 has a serrated U- shaped portion cutout therein so as to receive a clevis 21 pivotally affixed to-a pivoted latch arm 17. Pivoted latch arm'17 pivots on' connecting bolt 23 on flange member 20. This type of quick-acting locking means is of well-known construction in other applications and will Preferably, the .outer shell is formed of aluminum or other light weight, corrosion-resistantmetal in order to facilitate the assembly of the caisson on a drilling structure.

Vertically disposed flanges 19A and 19B are affixed to the opposed edges of the outer shell members 3A and 33, respectively, at both of the opposed matching edges thereof; i A'resi lientcompressible gasket 15, which may be of rubber or a rubber-like material, is cemented to flanges 19B. Flanges 26 are afiixed to the opposed edges .of floor sections 25A and 25B, and the gasket member 15 is cemented to flanges 26 on floor section 25B. The floor sections also are provided with other downwardly extending flanges (not *shown) to provide a certain amount of structural rigidity to the caisson floor. The gasket 15 extends from near the upper ends of the flanges 19B t0 the central opening in the caisson floor.

A pair of matching semicircular cylindrical inner shells or gasket housing sections 30A and 30B are aflixed, as by welding, to the floor sections 25A and 25B, respectively, around the central opening therein. The gaskethousing sections 30A and 30B extend upwardly from the floor for a short distance, [preferably about one foot,"and serve as a housing for gasket sections 31, 33. The gasket sections 31, 33 in the housing are compressible and resilient and may be formed of rubber or .a rubber-like material. The gasket sections 31, 33 are vulcanized or cemented to the gasket housing sections 30A, 30B. The gasket housing sections 30A, 30B are of spring-like material so as to allow lateral deflection toward the leg member when circumferentially compressed. Preferably, the composite gasket has an inner diameter that is slightly greater than the outer diameter of marine struc ture leg 1 so as to be in sealing engagement therewith when circumferentially compressed. To facilitate uniform compression of the annular gasket, the gasket housing sections 30A, 3013 may be provided with a plurality of V-shaped slots 35 therein extending from the upper edge therof to near the lower edge thereof. 7

With reference now to FIG. 5, there is shown apparatus for compressing the gasket sections 31, 33 against the leg 1' of the structure. This apparatus includes a truncated-conical, split metal ring member comprising sections 41A and 41B. Ring member section 41A has tween the sections of the truncated, conical floor member in the same fashion as in the previous embodiment. The taper of the truncated, conical floor member is such that it is normal to the strut 63. The strut 63 also extends through an opening "73 which is split between the outer shell member. A seal is provided for sealing between thestrut 63 and the opening in the truncated, conical floor member 69, which is identical to that described with regard to the previous embodiment. In FIG. 9 only a portion of the seal is illustrated, including the split, annular, sealing gaskets 31, 33, gasket housing sections 30A and30B, and the apparatus for compressing the gasket sections 31, 33. p

The upper portion of the outer shell is supported by structure including a plurality of inclined struts, each strut being aflixed at one end to the interior of one of aflixed thereto vertically spaced-apart, radially extending flanges 43A and 45A, and section 41B has aflixed thereto vertically spaced-apart, radiallyextending flanges 43B and 45B. The flanges overlap and have hinge pin holes drilled thereinto at 'each end thereof. When the holes at the endsof the flanges are aligned, hinge pins ,47 and 49 may be inserted therethrough. The hinge pin 47 may be an ordinary nut and bolt, but hinge pin 49 preferably is of noncircular or eccentric cross section. p

The constructional details of pin 49 are illustrated most perspicuously in FIGS..7 and 8. Pin 49 comprises an outwardly extending handle 51, a flange 54 at the upper end thereof, a circular lower section 53, and a central section having an eccentric cross section, The eccentric cross section is formediby cutting away the outer portion of a circle that lies outside the radiusof a second superimposed circle. 1

The sections 41A and 41B of the apparatus for compressing the gasket are assembled on the gasket and gasket housing in the following manner. The eccentric pin 94 is removed and the sections 41A and 41B are embraced around the drilling structure leg 1 above gasket sections 31, 33, and are forced down over'the gasket housing sections 30A, 30B as far as possible. During this operation the eccentric hinge pin 49 is turned to provide as large a diameter as possible for the compresssing apparatus. When the apparatus has been forced down as far as possible on the annular gasket and gasket housing, the eccentric pin 49 is rotated to more completely compress the semiannular gasket sections 31 and 33 against the leg 1. After the caisson has been assembled around the leg above water,-the quick acting latchesare engaged, the caisson is lowered to the' desired vertical -position'in the water,. theupperclamp 12 is bolted tight, the apparatus for compressing the gasket in the lower central opening is forced down as far as possible after which it is tightened more with the eccentric pin, and water entrapped in the caisson is pumped out. The gaskets 15,31, and 33 prevent intrusion of water into the interior of the caisson. The

the shell members and at the other end to a vertical support member clamped at its upper end to a horizontal marine structure strut 61 above the Water line. As illustrated, the vertical support member includes channel beams 83 having a pair of elongated plates 76A and 76B welded to'the ends thereof. A clamp member 85 is welded 'or boltedto the upper ends of the plates 76A, 76B.'. Flange members 77A, 77B are respectively bolted togetheron each side of the plates 76A,.76B at the lower end thereof, and are designedto be adjustable on the vertical support member. As illustrated in the drawing, struts 73A and 75A are Welded toflange 77A, and struts 73B and 75B are welded to flange 77B. Struts 80A and upward pressure of the water will tend to deflect the floor sections 25A and 25B slightly,'which has the beneficial eflect of increasing the sealing pressure of the gasket sections 31 and 33. Workmen many now enter the caisson'to effect repairs, after which theapparatus is disassembled.

In FIGS. 9 and 10 there is illustrated an embodiment of the invention for" use when repairing inclined support members such as struts and submarine structures. A split cylindrical shell is provided in this embodiment in. the same manner as in the embodiment previously described; only semicylindrical shell member 65A is illustrated. A split, truncated, conical floor'member 69 having a split bottom section 71 is affixed to the lower end of the-outer shell member. The truncated, conical floor member has an opening therein adapted to accommodate the inclined strut 63. The opening is split be- B are welded at one end to flanges 76A, 76B and at the other end to the outer shell member.

The invention is not to be restricted to the specific structural details or arrangement of parts herein set forth, as various modifications thereof can be etfected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. a

The objects and features of the invention having been completely described, What I wish to claim is:

1. Apparatus for repairing the support members of marine structures, comprising:

matching, semicylindrical outer wall members;

latching means for holding together said wall members to form a cylindrical seal;

a downwardly coning, split floor member having matching sections attached to said wall members, and having an opening therein for accommodating a marine structure support member;

a compressible gasket between said wall members and the sections of said floor member at their line of juncture and extending to said opening;

an annular split gasket housing atfixedat the lower end thereofto said floor member around'said opening, extending into the space definedby said floor member and Wall. members, and havinga plurality of longitudinal slots extending from the upper end thereof along a portion of the lengththereof;

an annular compressible resilient gasket within said gasket housing to conform to the marine structure support member, said resilient gasket defining a passageway coaxial with said floor opening and having a diameter smaller than the opening in said floor; and

an annular gasket housing'compressing means extensible ardund said gasket housing for exerting compressional force on said gasket housing and annular gasket. i a

2. Apparatus for repairing the support members of marine structures, comprising:

matching, semicylindrical outer wall members; latching means for holding together said wall members -to form a cylindrical seal; a

a downwardly coning, split floor member having matching sections attached to said wall members, and having an opening therein for accommodating a marine structure support member;

a compressible gasket between said wall members and the sections of said floor member at their line of juncture and extending to said opening;

an annular split gasket housing afiixed at the lower end thereof to said floor member around said opening, extending into the space defined by said floor member and wall members, and having a plurality of longitudinal slots extending from the upper end thereof along a portion of the length thereof;

an annular compressible resilient gasket within said gasket housing to conform to the marine structure support member, said resilient gasket defining a passageway coaxial with said floor opening and having a diameter smaller than the opening in said floor; and

split, truncated conical annular compression means fitted around said gasket housing, the split portions of said compression means being split into halves hingedly connected together at opposed edges thereof.

3. Apparatus for repairing the support members of an annular split gasket housing afiixed at the lower end thereof to said floor member around said opening, extending into the space defined by said floor mem her and wall members, and having a plurality of longitudinal slots extending from the upper end thereof along a portion of the length thereof;

an annular compressible resilient gasket within said gasket housing to conform to the marine structure support member, said resilient gasket defining a passageway coaxial with said floor opening and having a diameter smaller than the opening in said floor; and

split, truncated conical annular compression means fitted around said gasket housing, the split portions of said compression means being split into halves hingedly connected together at opposed edges thereof by means including at least two pairs of vertically spaced annular flanges having aligned hinge hole opposite the opposed edges of the halves of said compression means, and hinge pins in the aligned hinge,

holes. 4. The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein at least one of the hinge pins is eccentric in cross section.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the slots in said gasket housing are substantially V-shaped.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,790,111 1/31 Pike. 1,807,962 6/ 31 Cassiere 6 1-5 4 2,054,324 9/ 3 6 Hollerith.' 2,373,409 4/45 Myer -442 X 2,636,354 4/ 53 Glassgold 6154 X 2,939,292 6/60 Law 61-63 EARL I. WITMER, Primary Examiner.

I JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Examiner, 

1. APPARATUS FOR REPAIRING THE SUPPORT MEMBERS OF MARINE STRUCTURES, COMPRISING: MATCHING, SEMICYLINDRICAL OUTER WALL MEMBERS; LATCHING MEANS FOR HOLDING TOGETHER SAID WALL MEMBERS TO FORM A CYLINDRICAL SEAL; A DOWNWARDLY CONING, SPLIT FLOOR MEMBER HAVING MATCHING SECTIONS ATTACHED TO SAID WALL MEMBERS, AND HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN FOR ACCOMMODATING A MARINE STRUCTURE SUPPORT MEMBERF A COMPRESSIBLE GASKET BETWEEN SAID WALL MEMBERS AND THE SECTIONS OF SAID FLOOR MEMBER AT THEIR LINE OF JUNCTURE AND EXTENDING TO SAID OPENING; AN ANNULAR SPLIT GASKET HOUSING AFFIXED AT THE LOWER END THEREOF TO SAID FLOOR MEMBER AROUND SAID OPENING, EXTENDING INTO THE SPACE DEFINED BY SAID FLOOR MEMBER AND WALL MEMBERS, AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINAL SLOTS EXTENDING FROM THE UPPER END THREROF ALONG A PORTION OF THE LENGTH THEREOF; AN ANNULAR COMPRESSIBLE RESILIENT GASKET WITHIN SAID GASKET HOUSING TO CONFORM TO THE MARINE STRUCTURE SUPPROT MEMBER, SAID RESILIENT GASKET DEFINING A PAS SAGEWAY COAXIAL WITH SAID FLOOR OPENING AND HAVING A DIAMETER SMALLER THAN THE OPENING IN SAID FLOOR; AND AN ANNULAR GASKET HOUSING COMPRESSING MEANS EXTENSIBLE AROUND SAID GASKET HOUSING FOR EXERTING COMPRESSIONAL FORCE ON SAID GASKET HOUSING AND ANNULAR GASKET. 